LAHORE: Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Tuesday warned, quoting Met office, that monsoon winds entering the upper and central regions of the country from July 20 and spreading to other regions on July 21, may result in another week of rains.

PDMA Director General Faisal Farid said these winds may generate heavy rains and there was a risk of inundation of low-lying areas in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Lahore and Gujranwala, besides flooding in the hills and rivers of Dera Ghazi Khan from July 22 to 25.

Between July 20 and 26, Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, Mianwali, Khushab, Sargodha, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sahiwal, Okara, Bhakkar, Multan, Khanewal, Pakpattan, Vehari, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan and Khanpur are likely to receive more rain with strong winds and thundershowers, he said.

He also warned of the risk of landslides in Murree, advising tourists to plan travel keeping in mind the weather conditions. Farmers should also irrigate fields according to the rain forecast, he added.

The PDMA DG asked the district administrations in Punjab to identify places for setting up relief camps, keeping in view the needs of residents of the sloping areas.

He said steps should be taken to shift the vulnerable populations to temporary relief camps and safe places in case of heavy falls, besides making arrangements to provide them with cooked food.

He also directed the administration to ensure availability of all necessary machinery for flood prevention in urban areas.

He stressed the need for making de-watering sets available in time to prevent epidemics, besides directing health department to mobilise medical teams in flood-hit areas to prevent waterborne diseases.

The director general said medicinal spray should also be ensured at specific places to ill germs and mosquitoes.

He also issued instructions to the traffic police to make arrangements in advance to keep the traffic flow smooth during heavy rain that may cause obstructions and blockages on roads.

The Punjab administration should remain alert to handle any emergency situation during the expected heavy rains, he added.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2022